Ground source heat pumps vs. air source heat pumps

Heat pump systems are an energy efficient way to heat and cool your home. Geothermal heat systems use a special type of heat pump to provide comfortable temperatures for your home. Many people do not realize there are different types of heat pumps available, but only one type will work with a geothermal heat system; ground source heat pumps. The other type of heat pump is an air source heat pump. Ground source heat pumps and air source heat pumps operate similarly, but use different sources to heat and cool your home. To understand the differences, and to learn why a ground source heat pump is necessary for geothermal heat systems, let’s take a look at how the two types of heat pump systems operate.

Heating

For our geothermal heat systems, a ground source heat pump takes the energy moving through the earth loop and distributes it indoors. Ground source literally means the source of the energy comes from within the Earth, or the ground. Below ground, there is a stable source of energy which can be used to heat your home or building despite low outdoor temperatures. Ground source heat pumps are located inside the home or building. This is important because our cold New Jersey winters can have an adverse effect on this sensitive equipment.

An air source heat pump uses energy found in outside air to heat your space. The air source heat pump extracts the heat from outdoors and distributes it inside for warmth. You may be asking how this will work when temperatures are cold outside; the sun’s energy is always warming the air, even if it doesn’t seem to feel like it. While there is always energy which can be extracted from the outside air, there may not be enough. Here in New Jersey, we can experience some pretty frigid temperatures during winter months. Air source heat pumps may have trouble providing all the heat you need because of these conditions, which means you’ll have to use a backup heat source to achieve a comfortable temperature.

Cooling

In the hot summer months, ground source heat pumps extract warm air from indoors to cool the space. It pulls the warm indoor air and performs the heat transfer process, using refrigerant as the medium for heat transfer. The heat is absorbed by the lower temperature fluid within the earth loop. The earth loop then circulates the fluid back underground where it deposits this warm energy into cooler-temperature areas within the earth.

Air source heat pumps also extract the warm air from inside your home or business. Instead of sending the heat underground, it simply sends it outdoors.

You see, both heat pumps work to move heat from higher temperature to lower temperature areas; the difference is their energy source. For geothermal heat systems, ground source heat pumps are the way to go, allowing you to access the energy found below ground for heating and cooling your home.